Kosciusko boys’ and girls’ basketball played a home-and-home with J.Z. George last week. Both teams came away with two victories each. The Whippets won 58-48 and 49-45 and the Lady Whippets 62-32 and 63-13.
For the Whippets, it was strong defense and improved offense.
“Defensively, we are still playing pretty well,” said Coach Eleazarus Greenleaf. “I think our offense is starting to wake up.”
But he added, “We're not where we want to be quite yet.”
The Whippets had managed only 61 points total in the two previous games, losses to Wingfield and West Point.
Davion Roby had 17 points and six rebounds in the first game; Andrew Mancell had 10 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks; and Jerremy Whitcomb had 10 points and three steals. Keonte Williams scored 13 points and passed for five assists in the second game. Roby had 11 points and six rebounds and Mancell eight rebounds, seven points, four assists, and three blocks.
After trailing at the half in the first game, the Whippets were able to pull away in the fourth quarter. They had a double digit fourth quarter lead in the second game, but had to withstand a late J.Z. George rally.
“We kind of got complacent,” Greenleaf said. “We need these type of close games.”
GIRLS
Defense continues to be the name of the game for the Lady Whippets. Kosciusko has won five in a row, giving up an average of 22 points during the streak.
Coach Corey Guyton said there were some defensive lapses in the first game, which he attributed to a 10-day layoff resulting from three canceled games.
Aaliyah Amey (3) drives past defenders to the net.
Kevin Brunt / The Star-Herald
“We had a few mental breaks, but we cleaned it up. Our defense is getting to the point where we want it to be,” he said.
Offensively, there is still work to be done.
“There were a lot of shots we should have made,” the coach said.
D'Naylah was Player of the Game in the first contest with 10 points and seven rebounds. Jamiya Gray and 10 points and four steals.
Player of the Game for the second game was Jakayla Seawood with 12 points and seven rebounds. Mariah Woods had 12 points and 10 rebounds, Williams 10 points and five rebounds, and Aaliyah Amey eight points and eight rebounds.
The Whippets and Lady Whippets played Choctaw County Tuesday and have home games with Neshoba Central Friday. Both teams will compete in a tournament at Tupelo High School Saturday, the boys against Hancock and the girls against Gentry.
